I recently reviewed my employees performance, and had to decide on their merit increases. Every time I do this, I am amazed. My first job after I was discharged from the Navy paid $6.00 an hour, by 1986, I was earning $11.80 an hour.
My newest hire is making $15.00 an hour. 26 years after I was earning $11.80, the wage for a position on-par with the responsibilities I had 26 years ago has only gained an hourly wage of $3.20 more. I supported my wife and I with few issues in 1986. I cannot imagine that someone making $15.00 an hour today could do the same.
I left the hourly ranks in 2000, at the time I was making $30 something an hour (non-union I might add), and took a major hit to my income when I went into management. My last year as an hourly, I made $98,487.00. (I loved overtime, I was upset that I didn't break 100 K.) My first year in management I made $50 K.
Fast forward 12 years, and I have made up for that income gap and then some. But as a single provider for 5 people, my income is stretched tighter than it was 26 years ago. My highest paid mechanic makes $24.00 an hour. I was earning that in 1993.
Consider what $24.00 bought in 1993 compared to what it can buy today, and you can see the dilemma. Consider what $6.00 bought in 1984 compared to today. We Millrats have been screwed constantly, and consistently since 2000.
My personal view about unions is slowly changing.